Amusement apparatus



April 2,1929- H. w. SELLNER 1,707,687

AKUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed May 13, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet. l

April 2, 1929. H, w, SELLNER 1,707,613?- AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed May 13, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 2 1929 H. w. sELLNg-:R v1,707,687

ANUSEHENT APPARATUS Filed May 13, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheetv 3 if j? Ji J 4a Patented Apr. 2, 192'9.

1,101,681 UNITED STATES7PATENT oFFlcE.

HERBERT W. SELLNER, 0E FARIBAULT, MINNESOTA.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

Application filed May 13,

This invention relates to amusement apparatus and is an improvement on the invention disclosed in my pending application entitled Amusement device, April 24, 1926. My said original invention comprised an amusement device of the roundabout type having a plurality of circumferentially disposed Wheeled platforms or trucks moved over an undulating track bymeans of a large revoluble frame having radially extending arms, said trucks or platforms being tilted on two different axes to impart spinning' and oscillatory movement to the cars Which were eccentrically pivoted thereon.

, The spinning or oscillatory movement of the cars upon the several platforms would often continue after the movement of the revoluble frame had stopped thereby endangering the safety of passengers when endeavoring to alight. The frame work and construction of the revoluble frame and track moreover was not such that it-would be especially adapted for quick assembling or compact shipping. Moreover, in my original device no means were provided for preventing passengers from stepping or falling oii the loading platform between the several radial arms.

An object of my present invention is to provide an improved amusement device or apparatus similar in many respects to my originalk invention, but having efficient means controllable from without the ride for simultaneously and instantly stopping'V the oscillatory and spinning movement of the several passenger cars upon their respective platforms or trucks.

A further object is to provide in an amusement device of the class described, an eXtremely simple but highly eflicient knock down frame for supporting the revoluble frame` and the undulating track, which is especially adapted for compact transportation and which moreover may be set up or dissembled in a very shorttime.

A still further object is to provide in an amusement device of the type described,`

special railings extending between the outer' ends of the several radial arms in juxtaposition to the landing platform, said railings being constructed for proper disposal relative to the landing platform at all times during the movement of the trucks over the track Without interfering with the undulatory movement of said trucks. f

vThese and other objects of the invention S. N. 104,316, tiledV 1927. Serial No. 191,058.

will beapparent from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of my improved assembled amusement apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a plan View on a lar e scale of the hub structure for my revoluble ame and the brake actuating mechanism dis osed thereon;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; f

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line fl-t of Fig. 3, showing the levers for operating my brake actuating heady and the connec, tion of said levers with said head;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken through the pivot of one of the passenger cars showing one of the braking mechanisms applied to said car;

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one of the levers for controllingV the brake actuating head, detached;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of my railing structure supported from a pair of the tilting trucks or platforms; and

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 8 8 showing a portion of said railing structure in rear elevation.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated, comprises a large supporting frame, designated as an entirety by the letter A, preferably comprising a plurality of radially disposed sections. Each section is made up of upper and lower angle bars 10 and 11 respectively, and upright transverse angle bars 12 secured across the end portions of said horizontal angle bars. It will be seen, in Figs. 2 and 3 that the inner ends of the horizontal angle bars project slightly beyond the adjacent uprights 12 and are Vdisposedin the circumference of a circle. The inner ends of the lower angle bars 11 are detachably secured to a flanged pedestal 14h means of relatively heavy bolts 15` prefera ly held in place by means of cotter pins 15". An upper iianged collar 16 is secured to the projecting inner ends of upper angle bars 10 by means of suitable bolts 17 passing through fiange 16EL of said collar, said bolts being provided with retaining means at their inner ends, such as the cotter pins 18. An upright pivot shaft 19 is supported in pedestal 14 passes through collar 16 and projects a consider'- able distance above lsaid collar. Collar 16 is preferably rigidly secured to pivot sha-ft 19 by means of a heavy set screw 20. Collar 16 has a horizontallydisposed annular bearing surface at its upper end on which the hub 21 for my revoluble frame is supported. Hub 21 is journaled about shaft19 and carries an upstanding flange 21'concentric with said pivot shaft, said flange being provided with a plurality of horizontal and radially disposed bearing ports adapted to receive the heavy pins 22 for connection with the sweeps or arms of therevoluble frame. Retaining collars 23 are rigidly secured to the inner ends of -pins 22 and said pins carry at their outer ends spaced ears 22a to which the inner ends of the sweeps are pivotedV on normally horizontal axes. The sweeps or arms each comprise a pair of diverging angle bars 24 having their inner ends disposed flush within pivot ears 21LL and pivotally secured thereto by means of small transverse bolts 25. The outer ends of the several sets of angle bars 24 'are spaced some distance apart and are secured to the tiltable platforms or trucks 26. Each `of the trucks is mounted on a. pair of wheels 27 mounted-adjacent the sides of the platforms in -tandem arrangement. rlllie axles of wheels 27 extend radially with reference to pivot shaft 19, whereby said wheels will follow the narrow undulating circular track '28. This track is preferably made up in arcuate sections, each of said sections being secured to and supported from the outer ends of a pair of the upper angle bars 10 of the supporting frame. To properly position the annular undulating track it is, of course, necessary to vary the height of the uprights 12 at the outer ends of the frame section. Because of the length of the frame sections vthe yrelatively small variance necessary `for the undulated track will make little difference in the variance of the disposition of the inner ends of angle bars 10. A concentricundulated landing platform 29 is` built around supporting frame A, being undulated symmetrically with track 23. rl`he landing platform is disposed in juxtaposition with the outer ends of truck platforms 26 .whereby the passengers may easily mount or alight from the trucks.

A relatively small circular 'track 30 is carried by'eachof the platforms 26 on which the circumferentially disposed wheels of an eccentrically Vpivoted passenger car 31 travel. Each of the passenger cars 31 has a riders seat lat its outer endand has its forward end pivoted to the central part of platform 26 by means of a large vertical pivot post As shown in Fig. 5, the forward pivoted end of each 'of the passenger cars rigidly carries a depending brake drum 33 concentric with pivot post 32 and disposed between the botn drum 33 and a reinforcing block 35 is interposed between the lower end of pivot 32 and the platform.

Internal brake shoes 36 of the expansion type are housed within drum 33 and are pivoted to platform 26 by means of a bolt 37.

' These brake slices are shown of semi-annular form having opposing free ends spaced apart.y A vertically disposed oval-shaped camming member 38 is interposed between said opposing ends and is carried by the upper end of a short vertical rock shaft 39 journaled in platform 26. Rock shaft 39 carries the lever 40, these levers on the several trucks or platforms being connected to/suit able brake actuating mechanism by means of flexible members or cables 41.

A slidable brake actuating head 42 is mounted on pivot shaft 19 and is adapted to move vertically between co-llar 16 and a set screw collar 43 secured to .shaft 19 directly above pedestal 14. Brake head 42 preferably includes a relatively long. sleeve portion telescoped abaut the pivot shaft anda relatively. wide 'annular flange 42, said flange carrying adjacent its peripheral edge a plurality of upstanding pins 44 which support a horizontally disposed contact ring 45. ContactV ring 45 is preferably of somewhat larger diameter than the hub 21 and is adapted to encircle the lower portion of the hub, as illustrated when actuating head 42 is moved to extreme upward position. A plurality of circumferentially spaced relatively small brake operating levers 46, one for each car, are pivoted on horizontal axes between bifurcated lugs 48 rigidly secured tothe periphery of hub 21. Levers 46 have relatively short curved lower ends 46 adapted to be contacted by ring 45 and have relatively long upstanding ends to which the ends of cables 41 are secured. As shown in Fig. 1, cables 41 extend substantially radially from the hub of the revoluble frame connecting levers 46 to the actuating mechanism with Vlevers 4G on the several brake cams.

Brake actuating head 42 is moved vertically on shaft 19 by means of bell crank levers 47, one disposed at each side of collar 43 and horizontally pivoted thereto. Bell crank levers 47 have relatively long upstanding ends to which the operating cable 43 is secured and relatively short horizontal ends 47EL connected to the sides of actuating head 42 by means of links or pitmen 49. Operating cable 48 is preferably extended beneath the revoluble frame to a point adjacent the motor X for the ope lators convenient manipulation.

The revoluble frame may be driven in any suitable manner, such as by means of the endbrake lever 46.

Vuate rail 51 extending Vmeans of bolt 51a A The lower end into a square ended loop portion which 1s disaccidents to persons stelpping onto the trucks.

This structure prefera ly comprises an arcbetween two of the adjacent platforms 26. pivoted at one end by to a normally upright post 52, which post is preferably pivoted on a horizontal axis between upstanding ears 53 secured to the upper side of the platform. of post 52 is preferably formed posed between ears 53. The other end of raill'is secured to a second upstanding post 52, said post having the lower loop portion pivoted between pair of ears 53. Post 52 is rigidly connectedwith rail 51 by means of a diagonal bracing member 54. i

` Operation.

In operation the arms or sweeps are revolved about shaft 19, trucks 2G passing over the annu'lar undulating track. The undulations of the track cause the platforms to each tilt on two dinr'erent axes. Each truck having its wheels arranged in tandem, tilts endwisc on the axis of one of the pins 22 and also tilts sidewise on the axis of one of the bolts 25, which hinges its arm or sweep to pin 22. The various tiltings to which the cars are subjected depend, of courseon the undulations of the track. The effect from the tilting on two axes causes the passenger cars 31 to swerve suddenly about vertical pivots 32, sometimes spinning completely through one or more revolutions and sometimes oscillating from one side to another. In the event that the movementvof the cars becomes too violent, for one or more of the passengers, the operator can readily check the same or completely stop the movement of the cars by pulling cable 48. This swings the levers 47, sliding brake actuating head upwardly and thereby causing contact ring 45 to actuate the Levers 46 are connected with cam levers 40 which set the brake shoes 36 against their housings 33. When a ride is terminated several of the trucks 26 will be supported at least partially over the undulations of the track and the passenger cars will continue to swing or oscillate for some time unless checked. I/Vith my improved device Vthe operator actuates the brake mechanism as the movement of the revoluble frame is checked whereby the cars will all be held rigid on the platform of the trucks permitting the passengers to myury.

It will be apparent that my braking mechanism previously described may be operated from without the ride at any time to simultaon Y the Y undulating'track at alight without risk of neously stop the movement `of all cars ,on their trucks, whether the revoluble ,frame is moved fast or slow. i Y

In providing railingy structure between the platforms in my` amusement-,apparatus two factors had to be carefully considered. First,

during the operation vof the ride lit seldom occurs that two adjacent trueksare disposed the same level. Consequently, therailing structure must swing to conform to the dierence in levels and stilll must notinterfere with 'the tilting of the platforms. Secondly, thel protective rail must be kept at allv times in substantially vparallel position with and above the landing platform and in juxtaposition thereto. hinging theV upright posts 52 and 52a zontal axes to the platforms and by rigidly connectingrone end of each arcuate rail with one ofthe posts and by pivoting the other end of said rail to the post on'theadjacent truck all requisites are met. Y 1

To Vdissemble supporting frame and revoluble frame of my device it is only necessary to remove the cotter pins from the pins l5 and 17 thereby detaching the radial supporting sections from the hub structure. The arcuate track portions 28 may then be removed and the sweeps or arms removed from thev hub 2l. The supporting frame sections may be stac red together for shipment, requiring little space while the arcuate track sections may be secured together for shipping and are sufficiently short for easy transportation in a on horimot-or truck or box car.

-eral brake mechanisms.

2. In amusement apparatus a fixed pivot member, a revoluble frame adapted to revolve on the axis of said pivot member, a plurality of passenger cars pivotall mounted on said frame and adapted to osci late or spin there- Y on as said frame revolves, interposed between each of said cars and said frame, and brake actuating mechanism mounted on said pivot member and connectbrake mechanism ed with said several brake mechanisms to simultaneously actuate the same. n

3. In amusement apparatus a xed pivot member, a revoluble frame having a hub adapted to revolve on said pivot member a plurality of passenger cars pivotally mounted spin thereon as said frame revolves,- brake` mechanism interposed between each of said cars and said frame, actuating mechanism associated with said hub Vand said pivot inember tor simultaneously controlling said several brake mechanisms.

4. In amusement apparatus a fixed pivot member, a revoluble Ytrame having a hub adapted to revolve on said vpivot member a plurality of passenger cars pivotally mounted on said trame and adapted to oscillate or vspintherecn as said traine revclves,bralie Amechanism interposed between each of said cars and said fra-me, a plurality ot levers mounted on said hub each connected with one of said brake mechanisms,'and an actuating'4 head mounted on said Vpivot and adapted to simultaneously engage all ci said levers.

5. In amusement apparatus a circular undulating track, a plurality Vof radially disposed arins mounted for ie.f'olution about a vertical pivot, trucks mountedbeneath the outer ends of said arms adapted to pass over Ysaid track, passenger cars mounted on the outer ends of said arms, and a plurality et arcuate railings concentric with said track and each extending beneath the outer ends .of a'- pair of said arms and hinged atitsiends to said arms. v

6. In amusement apparatus a circular undulating track, a plurality of arms disposed lradially to said track mounted for revolution about averticalv pivot concentric with said track, said arms carrying trucks ad; jacent their Vouter ends adapted to pass over said track, passenger cars mounted on the outer ends of said arms and a plurality of railing structures each extending between the outer ends of a pair of said arms, each of said structures comprising an arcuate rail disposed concentric with said track, an upright post hinged to one end of said railing and to one of said arms and a second up-` right post rigidly connected to one end of said rail and hinged to one ot said arms.

7. In amusement apparatus a circular undulating track, a plurality of arms disposed radially to said track, a vertical pivot member disposed concentric with said track, a

slidably mounted on said pivot member adapted to engage the lower ends of said levers and ine-ans for moving said actuating head controllable i'roin without said track.

8. In amusement apparatus, a substantially vertical pivot member having a flanged base and including a flanged mem- `ber disposed at some distance above said base and substantially vertically alined therewith, a plurality of radially` disposed vertical frame sections, each comprising an upper and lower rail,said upper rails being readily connectable with said. upper flange and said lower rails being readily connectable with said base, said lower rails being Vadapted to rest on a supporting surface7 a plurality ot arcuate track sections concentric with said pivot and each traversing the outer ends of two of said frame sections and being readily connectable therewith, a rev- Yoluble iframe having aY hub mounted on said pivot member, a plurality of radial arms or sweeps readily connect-able with said hub and a plurality of trucks connected with the outer ends of said arms and adapted to travel over said track.

9. In amusement apparat-us, a central pivot` member, a framework mounted for revolution on the axis of said pivot member, a passenger car mounted on said frame work 'for independent pivotal movement thereon, brake mechanism interposed between said car and the portion of said framework on which said car is mounted, brake actuating mechanism mounted on said pivotmember, and connections between said brake actuating mechanism and said brake mechanism.

Intestimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

HERBERT W. SELLNER. 

